Light-reflecting device



1,604,684 c. J. EVANS K LIGHT R'EFLEGTING DEVICE\ Oct. 26 1926.

Filed April 8. 1926 Patented @et 26, 1926.

il .i

LIGHT-REFLECTNG DEV'JCE.

Application led April 8, 1926. Serial No, 100,5?5.

This invention .relates to a device for distributing refiected light projected from a plurality of sources upon a reflector rotating on a vertical axis and having a salient external surface and light-reflecting facets on said surface, adapted to reflect beams of lightl in various directions, the rotation of the reflector causing the reflected beams to produce a spectacular effect.

The object is to provide a reflecting device thus characterized, in `which the re- Hector is composed of two members or sections, rotated simultaneously in opposite directions on an axis at right angles with the axis of the device asa whole, so that each member has a planetary motion heightening the spectacular effect.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 shows partly in section and partly in elevation, a light-refiecting device embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section on line 2-2 of Figure 1f Figure 3 shows the device in perspective and on a smaller scale, and shows conventionally a plurality of lamps projecting light upon the reector members.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, showing a portion of one of the reflector members. i

Figure 5 shows separately and in section, the carrier hereinafter referred to.

Figure 6 shows separately and in section, a portion of one of the reflector members.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

The reflector members hereinafter described are supported and revolved about a vertical axis by a carrier, shownl separately by Figure 5. Said carrier in this instance, includes a tubular outer driven shaft 12, journaled at its upper end in fixed bearings 13 and 14.-, a sleeve holder 15, preferably formed as a sectional box or housing, fixed to the lower end of the shaft, as by a split clamping sleeve 15, and bolts 15b (Figure 2); and alined bearing sleeves 16, fixed to, and projecting oppositely from, the holder, and arranged at right angles with the tubular shaft 12. The holder may be provided with flanges 15C, fixed to the bearing sleeves by set screws 15d. Journaled in and extending through the sleeves 16 are spindles 17, which are therefore arranged at right angles with the tubular shaft 12.

Fixed to the outer ends of the spindlesi', are dishedreflector members, each designated as a whole by 18, said members having tatable by the spindle. To additionally support the member 18, I provide it with an internal spider including arms 21, fixed at 22 to the member 18, and a hub 23, embracing and rotatable on the corresponding bearing sleeve 16.

The reflector members include flat sided reflecting facets or mirrors 24:, and a cementitious binder 25, securing the facets to the shell or body portion of the member. The fiat sides of the facets are tangential to the external surface ofthe shell, as shown bv Figure-4, so that each facet is adapted to reflect a beam of light `having a cross section corresponding to the area ofthe facet.`

The facets are preferably spaced apart, portions of the binder occupying the spaces between adjacent facets, as indicated byv Fig-` ure 4, so that the external surfaces of the reflector members are variegated. rlhe binder may be composed of litharge and fish glue, a red color being imparted by the litharge.

The carrier, spindles 17, and the reflector members fixed to the spindles, constitute a structure which is rotatable as a unit on a vertical axis. The reflector units are atthe same time independently rotatable on a horizontal axis common to both. y 27`indicat-es an inner driven shaft jour` naled in and extending through the tubular shaft 12, into the housing 15, the upper end of the inner shaft being journaled in a fixed bearing 28. 30 designates a driving shaft,

`connected with a suitable source of power,

such as an electric motor, indicated at 31 in Figure 1. Gearing is provided to connect the driving shaft 30 with the driven shafts 12 and 27, and rotate the driven shafts simultaneously in opposite directions, said gearing, in this instance. comprising a bevel gear 31, fixed to the driving` shaft, a bevel gear 32, fixed to the shaft 12, and a bevel gear 33, fixed to the shaft 27, the gears 32 and 33 meshing with the gear 31 at diametrically opposite sides of the latter. Gearing is also provided to connect the inner so that the member is supported and ro- Y reflected by the other lamps driven shaft 27 kWith the spindle 17, and rotate the spindles and the reflector members xed thereto simultaneously in opposite directions. Said gearing as here shown, includes a bevel gear 35, fixed to the shaft 2'?, and bevel gears 36, fixed to the spindles and meshing with the gear 35 at diametrically opposite sides of the latter.

It will now be seen that the rotation of the driving shaft 30 causes the rotation of the entire device as a unit, on a vertical axis, and that each reflector section is additionally rotated on a horizontal axis, and has a planetary motion. A highly spectacular effect may, therefore, be produced by projecting light from a plurality of fixed electric or 37 upon the reflector members, Figure 3, thebcams of light facets of one member revolving oppositely from those reflected by the facets of the other member, while the beams reflected by the facets of the tivo members revolve about a vertical axis. he bases or proximate ends of the reflector members 1S are necessarily separated from each other by a space, indicated at 238, permitting` the driven shafts l2 and 27 to extend between the members, asshovvn by Figure l, and leaving the members free to rotate. To conceal this space, I secure at 39 to the tubular shaft a ring 40, forming a covering zone surrounding the margins of the reflector members.

I use the terms vertical and horizontal as indicated b v in a relative, and not in a limiting sense, to`

briefly convey the idea that the bearing sleevesl and spindles 17 are arranged at right angles with the shafts l2 and 27. It is conceivable that the shafts l2 and 27 may be horizontally supported, although for obvious reasons, such arrangement would be less desirable than the vertical arrangement shown.

rIhe ring 40 is provided with reflecting facets 24, so that the reflector members and the ring present a substantially continuous external surface, from all parts of Which light is reflected.

I claim:

l. A light-reflecting device comprising a rotary carrierl including` a tubular outer driven shaft, journaled at its upper end in fixed bearings, a sleeve holder fixed to the lower end of the shaft, and alined bearing sleeves fixed to, and projecting oppositely from, the holder and arranged at right angles With the tubular shaft; spindles journaled and extending through the bearing sleeves, the spindles being at right angles With the tubular shaft, dished refiector members fixed to the outer ends of the spindles and having oppositely facing salient external surfaces provided with refiecting facets, the said carrier, spindles, and reflec tor members*constituting a structure which is rotatable as a unit on a vertical axis, While Vthe reflector members are independently rotatable on a horizontal axis common to both; an inner driven shaft journaled in and extending through the tubular shaft, gearing connecting the driving shaft with the tubular and inner driven shafts, to rotate the driven shafts simultaneously in opposite directions; and gearing connecting the inner driven shaft with the spindles, to rotate the spindles and the reflector members simultaneously in opposite directions, each reflector member having a planetary motion.

2. A light-reflecting device as specified by claim l, the reflector members being provided vvith internal spiders including hubs embracing and rotatable on said bearingl sleeves, so that said members are supported conjointly by the spindles andthe bearing sleeves.

3. A light-reflecting ydevice as specified by claim l, the reflector members being separated from each other by a space through Which said driven shafts extend, the reflecting device comprising also a ring fixed to the tubular driven shaft and covering said space.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CLIFTON J. EVANS. 

